Airplane safety chair



G. PROVENZANO AIRPLANE SAFETY CHAIR April 18, 1944.

Filed May 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I (9 H V v .INVENTOR.

April 18, 1944.

G. PROYENZANO AIRPLANE SAFETY cru un Filed may 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 18, 1944 UNITEDFSTATES. eATENT ori ce 3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for confining an occupant in a seat,and more particularly to such seats as are used in airplanes.

It is well known that such travellers are ordinarily confined to theirseats, by straps adjusted by operatives of the airplane, and releasedonly at their discretion.

An object of this invention is to provide a pair of opposed gates,pivoted to the seat frame in a manner to fold over the lap of the seatoccupant coincidently with becoming seated therein.

A further feature is in the provision of automatic restraining meansadapted to retain a person on the seat, but permitting rising uponremoval of their weight from the seat.

Another purpose is to produce means for locking the restraining gates bythe occupant.

These objects, and others analogous thereto, are accomplished by thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and shown in the annexed drawings, forming part hereof, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of theinvention showing the seat as unoccupied, certain parts being insection.

Figure 2 is a front view of the same.

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the operative parts of thedevice in closed position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the gate actuating bar.

Figure 5 is a partial side view of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, numeral [5 designates in general the wall ofthe cabin or fuselage of a conventional type of airplane, having a fioorI6 and provided with a window I 1.

Fixed on the fioor is a circular base 13, in which is set an uprightrigid post l9 having a fixed collar 20.

A helical expansion spring 2| is loosely coiled around the post, itslower end being seated on the collar 20, while its upper end is encasedin a sleeve 22, closed at its top in a manner to be supported by thespring, around which the sleeve is freely rotatable.

A circular flange 23, formed on the upper end of the sleeve, is attachedto the under side of a chair frame having a rearwardly inclined backrest 26, connected to the main frame by arm rests 21, having forwardlyinclined, downreaching supports 28, which at their junction with themain frame 25, are provided with forwardly extending lugs 29,

A horizontal shaft is rotatably mounted in these lugs, being confinedtherein by washers 31 held by nuts 32.

Forwardly bowed arms 34 rise from the lugs 29, and are connected withthe supports 28 by arcuate members 35, concentric with the axis of theshaft 30.

Adjustably fixed, on the outer sides of the members 35, are bearings 36,held in adjustment by bolts 31, threaded into the member 35, whereby thebearings may be moved towards and from the chair back 26.

These bearings are receptive of round bars 38 pivotally mounted on stems39 extending radially from the peripheries of discs 40, which are keyedto the end portions of the shaft 30.

Fixed on upper extending ends of the bars 38 are flag-like gates 4|,capable of being swung outwardly as shown in Fig. 1, or of closing overthe front of the chair.

Motion is communicated to the bars 38 by reason of pinions 44, fixed ontheir lower portions, these pinions engaging with curved racks 45actuated in the following manner.

A seat having its frame 46, pivoted on the shaft 30, is provided with acushion and is normally held in an upwardly inclined position by springs41 resting on the main frame 25.

The forward elements of the side members of the seat frame 46 terminatein essentially circular plates 48, having lugs 49 adapted to limit therise of the seat by reason of contact with the forward ends of themainframe 25.

The plates 48 also carry the racks 45, whereby motion of the seat 46 istransmitted to the gates in accordance with its position.

If at times it is desirable to prevent the chair from rotating on theaxis of the post IS, a plate 50 is secured to the wall l5, the platehaving a vertical slot 5| receptive of a stud 52 fixed in a vertical bar53 rigidly carried by the chair frame.

In operation, the weight of a person when seated in the chair causes theseat to move downwardly, turning the gates into closed position,confining the occupant until released by rising.

It will be apparent that the gates may be had when closed, avoidingdanger due to shocks or the position the airplane may assume.

What is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 In combination, a chair having a frame and a seat hinged at its frontedge to the frame, springs interposed between said frame and seatnormally inclining said seat upwardly near the rear, normally uprightbars rotatably mounted at the front of said frame on both sides thereof,rack and pinion means to rotate said bars upon the application of weightto said seat whereby it is caused to assume a level position, andconfining means carried by said bars to fold above and across said seatwhen influenced by weight on said seat.

2. In combination, a chair having a frame and a seat hinged at its frontedge to the frame, springs interposed between said frame and seatnormally raising said seat at the rear, normally erect bars rotatablymounted at the front of said frame on both sides thereof, racks carriedby said seat, pinions on said bars engaged with said racks whereby torotate said bars when said seat is 00- cupied and assumes asubstantially level position, and restraining means afiixed to said barsadapted to confine an occupant on said seat when sitting thereon.

3. In combination, a chair having a frame and a seat hinged at its frontedge to the frame, said seat being normally inclined upwardly near therear, springs to cause inclination of said seat, interposed between saidframe and seat, normally upright bars-mounted rotatably at the frontcorners of said frame, means actuated by a person sitting on said seatto rotate the bars, means to confine a person on said seat carried bysaid bars, and means to retain said confining means.

when in operative position.

GAETANO PROVENZANO.

